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Civil Rights & Beyond

Civil Rights & Beyond

African-American History Civil Rights and Beyond

"Atlanta is known for its rich African-American culture," said Kathleen Bertrand, former ACVB senior vice president of governmental and community affairs. "Visitors to Atlanta may find history, cultural attractions and the spirit of the black family in the many churches, restaurants and attractions in Atlanta."

The Sweet Auburn district houses the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site; the restored King Birth Home; Ebenezer Baptist Church, where three generations of the King family preached; and the burial site of MLK, Jr. and his wife, Coretta.

Insider Tip: Take the GPS Ranger tour of MLK National Historic Site. Located inside the historic firehouse you can rent a hand held GPS which will take you on a Tour at your own walking pace.

Stand in the footsteps of civil rights leaders on the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame, where the shoe prints of heroes such as Rosa Parks, President Jimmy Carter, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and 14 others have been embedded in a permanent concrete memorial in the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. Space exists eventually to hold more than 600 footprints of exceptional men and women.

Guided walking tours of the Sweet Auburn district are offered Saturdays from March-November. To schedule a tour, contact the
Atlanta Preservation Center.

APEX MuseumHear stories of early African-American pioneers in Atlanta and of Auburn Avenue, plus learn about the powerful black families that helped transform Atlanta.

Lunch

Gladys Knight & Ron Winan's Chicken & Waffles hearkens back to 1930s Harlem when celebrities visiting Wells restaurant in the early morning hours couldn't decide if they wanted dinner or breakfast. The strange but delicious combination of juicy fried chicken with sweet, syrupy waffles was born. Open until 4 a.m. on weekends, stop for lunch, dinner or a late-night snack from the musically themed menu.

AfternoonThe Atlanta University Center (AUC) is the largest concentration of African-American colleges in America and includes Spelman, Morehouse and Morris Brown colleges and Clark Atlanta University, The Interdenominational Theological Center and Morehouse School of Medicine.

Clark Atlanta University Art Galleries are on the campus of one of the city's oldest black universities and feature 640 works of art, including contemporary American, African-American and African in paintings, sculptures and murals.

Hammonds House Galleries and Resource Center of African-American Art displays art by people of African-American heritage and disseminates an understanding of art from the African Diaspora. The gift shop is small, yet brimming with fun and unique treasures.

DinnerCivil rights leaders and strategists would come together over the Paschal brothers' savory cooking at Paschal's Motor Hotel and Restaurant. Today,
Paschal's Restaurant at Castleberry Hill still hosts Atlanta's leaders for breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week.

EveningCheck the schedule of
True Colors Theatre Company, a national company led by Kenny Leon, former Alliance Theatre artistic director and director of the Broadway revival of "Raisin in the Sun." The theater is committed to staging groundbreaking African-American plays.

Events and celebrations honoring the culture and heritage of African-Americans are held throughout the year in Atlanta. Here are a few of the annual events and celebrations::